un was already bleeding through t

s aw

hadn't sl

the silence as I listened to the heavy sound of the front door closing,

the practiced stealth of a predator trying

under his weight a

d of stale smoke, the metallic tang of gun

brushing a kiss

bellissima,"

me not to recoil from

over four years, waiting until he went into the ba

tarted running,

ty from hours of st

in closet, my fingers hovering

o

t

haul me back. I was a Vi

ccept, or I needed to disappear so com

ith a towel slung low around his wai

freshed. He

ly," he said,

to look for earrings on the

aid, keeping my voice fl

his side. "I'm sorry I wasn't her

e it did

he air like an animal scents a st

I said, finally tur

I had spent four yea

ars for his family. I used to trace them with m

red how many of t

id. "I want to redecorate the pr

void a confrontation. "Do whatever

e could try to

went straight to t

hen he didn't want to go to the warehouse,

ipping the room of its warmth,

pull out a rug, but instead,

led i

s a s

rm

range an

ly not

t was. It smelled like the floral sc

dn't

n't s

ly and placed it on the coff

to attend a dinner

dow in mourning before

t, his hand possessively on

e acrid smoke of cigars and

er imme

a D

to be here. She was

r the bar, laughing at s

young.

esting protectively

hitched in

standing near me, their bac

e dripping with gossip. "The new girl. Be

her said. "Doe

y to look at, but hollow. Bennett

lood drain f

oss the room

looking

he cold, calculated mas

oft. It

s face hardened instantly

, grabbing my elbow

e a lethal command. "You loo

I am,"

es. "What is that

ennett. I wan

st got

want to

his dominance, waiting for

my arm as if I were a burden. "Take the dri

d his ba

ed back

ouse, the night air b

n't g

ck to the

to the

d up th

wedding photo I

smiling girl in

know he

photo into t

ass sh

tisfying sound I h